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Magnus (Moderator)
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Wednesday 24 June 2009 3:45:20 pm
Blancpain uses many, increasingly exclusive movements...
which are jointly developed and produced by Blancpain's sister company Frédéric Piguet.
Piguet is a legendary movement specialist which dates back to 1858. It created its own fame with specialising on ultraflat movements. Its now owned by Blancpain/Swatch Groupand is the partner for all current Blancpain movements.
Piguet also sells some of its movements to other (high end) brands such as Vacheron Constantin and others. However, the Blancpain gets exclusive movements in terms of beat rate or function.
A primarily fine example is the Blancpain Cal. 21. It is still used today, but was first presented by Piguet already in 1925. In 2005, this very movement has been chosen to drive the world's thinnest Perpetual Calender, the Cal. 5621:
Blancpain exclusively has the Minute Repeater Cal. 33/35, the Tourbillon Cal. 23/25 as well as the Grande Complication Cal 1735:
Today, Blancpain's movements are getting increasingly unique. The new family of long power-reserve movements which started in 2007 with the Calibre 13R0 are jointly developed with Blancpain and are entirely reserved for this company. Here is the 13R0 (handwound, 8 days of power reserve, titanium freesprung balance):
All recent new movements are based on this, such as the new calibre 13R5:
Only ever once Blancpain used an engine that was born at ETA: The Peseux 7001 handwound movement found its way in Blancpain's only manual Chronometer ever produced, the Ref. 7002.
However, in this case even this movement has been extensively reworked with a new fine regulation and an entirely new bridge layout. The result is quite appealing, and ironically the watch (back then the most affordable Blancpain) is highly sought after today.
The trilogy you are referring to is driven by two Piguet/Blancpain movement. The Cal. 1151 (time only, 100h power reserve, same base movement also for the GMT watch):
and the Cal. 1185 (column wheel operated chronograph with vertical clutch)
So, I hope I could answer your questions. You can't get wrong with a Blancpain if it comes to movement exclusivity!
Best regards,
Magnus
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